DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!

Private Detective Michael Brady stat in the den of his spacious Downtown St. Albert apartment, going over the file handed to him by Julian Buchanan a mere few nights ago. It was full of police reports written up against Amber Magna for the stalking of Julian's late son Jason. The St. Albert RCMP benefitted greatly from Mr. Buchanan's generous donations and contributions, so they took his word on everything, even if he stretched the truth.

If Detective Brady weren't a shrewd man, he would have given the girl the benefit of the doubt and talked to her first. However, since he was being paid a generous sum to bring this wayward girl to justice, he didn't give a damn if she was innocent or not. He had a lifestyle to maintain and he was being paid a fortune.

It was an easy enough matter to get through to her best friend, Victoria Ramirez. Her younger sister Serenity had been arrested countless times for theft and would have faced substantial time in jail by his hand if Victoria didn't cooperate. Just as he suspected, she melted like a tub of butter and begged for him to leave Serenity alone. She offered to do anything to have him stay away from her little sister. In addition to her cooperation, he managed to fit in a few romps in bed with her as well. It was very convenient for him.

Now, as he sat there, drinking a glass of single malt scotch, he began to formulate a plan to capture the fugitive at Victoria's birthday bash. He knew nobody would suspect a thing if he posed as Victoria's date. Since L'Aronde could only be accessed through an elevator, he planned to have several officers waiting downstairs as his backup in case she tried to muster an escape. It was all falling into place.

"Enjoy your freedom while you still can, you Italian slut" he murmured, taking a long sip of his scotch as he looked at her picture "Because your life will soon be a living hell at my hands"...

... Victoria sat in her bedroom, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt horrible for selling out her best friend to save her sister from going to jail, not to mention going to bed with the bastard.

She sobbed, remembering all the assignments Amber did for her so she could pass her courses and graduate from Archbishop O'Leary High School with her. Even when she had her own issues with men, Amber remained dutifully by her side during her hellish divorce from her ex husband Sean. Amber did a lot for her and how did she repay her best friend? She threw herself in with the enemy as soon as he threatened her.

"Oh Amber" Victoria sobbed "I'm so sorry...I wish I could undo what I have done in the past couple of weeks...I didn't mean for this to happen. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me"

Wiping her eyes on the duvet, an idea came to her. She would let Amber know about the cops being there before the Detective could get his hands on her. That way, she would at least absolve some of her recent sins. After all, it was she who taught Amber to understand some Tagalog...Detective Brady wouldn't know what hit him.

Slowly but surely, a sly smile began creeping up her face...

"Okay, Amber" Sylar murmured, setting up a makeshift target in the kitchen. "Focus all your energy and see if you can hit this with your solar flare"

Amber narrowed her eyes in concentration and focused on her anger at Jason for everything he had put her through. She felt her anger build up the way it did the night she killed him as her clenched fists felt white hot. With a war cry, she summoned the solar flare and allowed it to consume the target.

She staggered a bit, feeling blood coming out of her nose again. Sylar handed her a tissue to mop up the stream of blood.

"You did it" he exclaimed, kissing her "You didn't need to learn to control it...this was within you all along!"

"Yay" she said sarcastically, tossing the tissue in the trash bin next to her.

"Wow, don't get too excited" he replied, raising an eyebrow at her reaction "What's wrong?"

Amber sighed.

"I'm worried, Gabri" she admitted, crossing her arms before banging her fist on the counter "What if I'm wrong and the cops are waiting for us there?"

"Don't fret, my pet" he replied, putting an arm around her shoulders "If all else fails, I will take care of you. We have the means of a fast escape anyways. I can teleport, remember?"

"True" she said, sighing again as they walked to the television room "But I have a bad feeling that a nasty surprise will be waiting for me"

Sylar grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. He then cradled her face in his large hands.

"Listen to me, Amber" he said tenderly, his dark eyes sparkling with clarity and purpose "No matter what happens, I'll be there for you. That's why I'm coming with you to this party. I want you to be safe...not a prisoner in jail or a caged animal in a facility. You belong here with me and I won't let anything happen to you that you don't wish upon yourself. Do you understand me?"

"I...I understand" Amber said softly, looking deeply into his eyes "But what is so special about me? I'm just a girl-"

"A girl with an extraordinary gift" he interrupted, still cradling her face "A girl who has helped me to discover the human side that I thought didn't exist within me. You have taught me a lot about my true self in a shockingly short time and accepted me despite all of my faults. You're everything to me now, Amber and I can't bear to lose you. Please believe me"

"What are you trying to say, Gabri?" she asked, seeing a message in his eyes.

"I...I love you Amber" he whispered, kissing the top of her forehead "I know it seems sudden but it just feels so right. I will do anything and everything in my power to protect you and help you develop your powers further. You saved my life once, remember? I plan to do the same for you"

"Oh Gabri" she sighed, brightening a little bit "I...love you too. You have always been there for me when I needed it and haven't left my side since. I wish I had met you before I met Jason so that this present bullshit wouldn't be hanging over our heads. I hate how you're in the middle of this mess when you don't deserve it"

"I'm in this with you because I care" he rebutted, pulling her close for a tight embrace "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want it. With the two of us together, we are an unstoppable force...people will be afraid to cross us. If the cops try to hassle us at Victoria's party, they will wish they were never born. So, cheer up and enjoy what's to come!"

Amber said nothing, wrapping her arms around his strong body...